Park Theatre

The Park Theatre in Kinston was one of the first shopping center theatres in Eastern North Carolina, having been opened by 1951. The theatre had a freestanding box office in front of the entrance and mirrors on the lower facade, under the marquee. The lobby had a stairway to the left side, leading to upstairs restrooms (the only ones in the theatre) and the balcony (closed after 1970). The auditorium was draped with satin curtains all around, and also had a satin-lined ceiling. The curtain over the screen rose vertically with scalloped edges on the bottom.

The Park Theatre was run by H.B. Meiselman Theatres by 1967 and possibly by Eastern Federal in the 1970’s. Competition from Stewart & Everett’s newer suburban theatres (the Mall and Plaza Cinemas) eventually sealed the Park’s fate, and it was closed by 1982. It has sinced been gutted and converted to retail space.

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